Love at First Drive: The SCCA Club Spec Mustang class | Articles

Does the world need yet another motorsports class? After our first encounter with Club Spec Mustang at the SCCA Solo Nats, we believe the answer is yes.

Club Spec Mustang follows a new vision for the SCCA: Create a rule set that allows one car to participate in multiple club offerings, meaning autocross, Time Trials, RoadRally and RallyCross.

Club Spec Mustang, as the name might suggest, features the Mustang–specifically, the 2005-’09 GT model as well as the Shelby GT, Bullitt and California Special.

The rules then require a spec suspension setup developed by Sam Strano of Strano Performance Parts: Koni yellows, Eibach Pro-Kit, UMI Performance anti-roll bars, and camber/caster plates from Maximum Motorsports or BBK. Wheels must measure 18×9.5 inches and can’t weigh less than 17 pounds. The spec tire is the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 in a 275/40R18 size. (After rebates, it’s currently $939.96 for a set at Tire Rack.)

Then there are some optional items. The intake and exhaust can also be opened up–check the rules for specifics–while competitors may install a Hurst short-throw shifter. A Ford Racing big-brake kit can also be fitted along with an upgraded third link bearing and Panhard bar. Yes, you may also run an oil cooler.

We’re co-driving Eric Sienkiewicz’s 2005 Mustang GT at this week’s Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships. There are 19 drivers in our class.

[Live thread: The 2024 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nats]

First impression: A Club Spec Mustang seems rather reasonable to build and run. Eric bought a nice, low-mileage Mustang for less than $10K before adding the spec parts.

He skipped the optional tune, though, leaving about 30 horsepower on the table. However, this allows him to race (and cart the kids to school) on 87 octane. Fuel mileage on the street is 27-28 mpg, even with the race tires.

So, tires: Eric reports that the required Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires last forever and don’t display any bad wear patterns. He had plenty of tread left after running this same car in the Tire Rack One Lap of America presented by Grassroots Motorsports, but he bought fresh tires for Nationals as his others had experienced plenty of heat cycles.

These tires love heat–so much so that every single car but one at Solo Nats has a co-driver, and not one sprayer was spotted on grid.

We noticed drastically better feel after our first run. Most drivers claimed there was no limit to…